Nowadays, there is huge interest in natural products obtained from marine organisms that can promote a state of health and well-being for humans. Microalgae represent a primary source of bioactive compounds that can be used as functional ingredients in various application areas.
In recent years, the study of microalgae has intensified and the cosmeceutical interest in this precious resource is now well-established. Microalgae are true biofactories containing numerous active molecules with important effects on the human body and are used today in various sectors, such as medical, food and cosmeceutical industries. It is widely recognised that microalgae metabolites exhibit a broad range of biological activities, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation absorption, antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-blemish, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
Nature has designed microalgae to survive in diverse ecosystems and withstand harsh environmental conditions. This evolutionary trait allows microalgae to effectively counter environmental stress factors through specific metabolites that nature has developed to help them adapt.
Often, active substances are produced in response to specific stimuli, such as high or low temperatures, high salinity, osmotic pressure, photo-oxidation and ultraviolet radiation.
Scientific research today focuses on defining the best cultivation conditions to maximise the production and quality of active ingredients and develop industrially sustainable extraction processes. Microalgae and cyanobacteria also contribute 32% of the world's photosynthetic activity and capture CO₂ more efficiently than plants, playing a crucial role on our planet.
Porphyridium, phycoerythrin and exopolysaccharides
Porphyridium, a red marine microalga belonging to the Rhodophyta family has attracted considerable attention as a source of high-value bioactive substances such as phycobiliproteins and sulfated polysaccharides that have attracted particular interest from the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food markets in recent years.
Phycoerythrin, a water-soluble phycobiliprotein, is the substance produced by the microalga that gives it its striking intense pink color. Like all phycobiliproteins, it is composed of a protein part covalently linked to chromophores called phycobilins and has a molecular weight between 240 and 260 kDa. Phycoerythrins are typically composed of monomers (αβ) organised into a disc-shaped trimer (αβ)3 or a hexamer (αβ)6 (the latter being the functional unit of the phycobilisome). These typical complexes also contain a third type of subunit, called the γ chain.
B-phycoerythrin (B-PE) is a chromoprotein that functions as an accessory pigment in photosynthesis, being able to absorb wavelengths not absorbed by chlorophyll. This water-soluble pigment is a bioactive molecule with interesting properties, such as antiinflammatory, immunosuppressive, antitumor, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antihypertensive activities. Additionally, it can be used as a fluorescent probe in cell tracing and imaging assays, such as flow cytometry, fluorescent immunoassays and immunophenotyping. Besides its biotechnological and medical applications, PE can be used in the food industry as a natural colorant due to its health benefits.
This chromoprotein has proven to be an effective antioxidant agent, effectively scavenging harmful free radicals and protecting against photooxidative stress. Furthermore, in recent years there has been a continuous increase in market demand for phycoerythrin due to its natural origin and multiple functional properties.
Another substance of interest produced by Porphyridium is sulfated polysaccharides (EPS), which accumulate in a layer surrounding the cytoplasmic membrane. Polysaccharides are secreted by Porphyridium and form a protective film around the cell, allowing it to withstand external stresses.
They are composed of glucuronic acid and various main neutral monosaccharides such as D- and L-Gal, D-Glc, D-Xyl, D-GlcA and sulfate groups.
These polymers consist of various sugars linked in a branched structure that gives the substance protective and moisturising colloidal properties. Polysaccharides derived from Porphyridium have a wide range of applications in the medical, cosmetic and food industries due to their excellent anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties.
Highly innovative biotechnology
Today, biotechnology is a cutting-edge tool for developing highly innovative and sustainable processes to create high-value-added products. By using biological systems, it is possible to bioactivate specific substrates or extract active compounds from them while preserving their characteristics.
Bioactivation is a process that occurs naturally through the action of enzymes and microorganisms and is fundamental to the metabolism of all living beings. Enzymes are genuine molecular tools that nature has developed to allow living systems to interact with the substances they come into contact with.

Enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) is a non-traditional extraction process that relies on the use of enzymes to break down cell walls and facilitate the release of bioactive substances. Enzymes with specific hydrolytic properties are used to degrade this matrix and gain access to biologically active components in the cytosolic spaces and cell walls. Commonly used enzymes for this method include proteases, pectinases, pectinesterases, cellulases, hemicellulases, cellobiases, and α-amylases, which can be used in various combinations. This highly innovative method is very specific, however, and it is necessary to select the right enzymes for the substrate of interest and carefully define the process conditions.
Enzymatic extraction has significant advantages, as it avoids the need for chemical solvents, high energy consumption, and high temperatures, allowing for high yields and preserving the characteristics of the extracted bioactive compounds. These advantages make the extracts obtained suitable for application in a multitude of fields of interest.
Lady Purple®, Nature's pink power
Active Cells Biotechnology, specialising in biotechnological processes, has developed an enzymatic extract from the valuable biomass of Porphyridium microalgae, rich in numerous active biomolecules. Thanks to advanced research, a specific pool of enzymes was selected for the degradation of the outer envelope of the alga, and the optimal parameters for enzymatic hydrolysis were defined. Through the sophisticated enzymatic extraction process, the active molecules trapped inside the cell and anchored to its membrane are released, enhancing their functional properties. The valuable microalgal substances, including phycobiliproteins and polysaccharides, are then extracted into the aqueous medium and purified through fine filtration. The enzymes used in the processes come from natural microorganisms and enable the production of safe and truly eco-friendly products. The hydrolysis process thus unleashes the full potential of microalgal raw material, bringing beauty, technology, and sustainability into perfect harmony. The result is Lady Purple, a water-based extract with an exceptional color, containing functional phycobiliproteins and polysaccharides.
The phycobiliproteins, particularly phycoerythrin, confer important protective activities against free radicals and oxidative stress induced by ultraviolet rays and environmental pollution. The polysaccharide fraction released from the alga's membrane gives the product dermoprotective and moisturising properties.
Lady Purple, benefits
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Preserves against oxidative stress induced by urban pollution
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Protects against aging caused by ultraviolet rays
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Helps restore a healthy skin microbiome
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Protects the skin from free radical damage due to its powerful antioxidant properties
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Maintains deep hydration of the skin
The impact of this sustainable technology
The cosmeceutical industry has been expanding over the years, and today, the mandatory direction is the use of sustainable active ingredients derived from natural and renewable sources. Recently, there has been enormous interest in natural products obtained from marine organisms that can promote human health and well-being. Microalgae are a primary source of bioactive compounds and can be described as the largest reservoir of secondary metabolites to be considered for future therapeutic needs.
Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that can grow rapidly and survive in extreme environmental conditions, having evolved to develop various survival strategies and numerous protective bioactive compounds.
Furthermore, unlike plants, they can be obtained through low-cost and eco-friendly cultivation processes and are characterised by high productivity, limited seasonal variation, reduced land occupation, and easier extraction.
When leveraging the potential of microalgal-derived compounds to develop and enhance a new generation of cosmeceutical products, it is important to consider the microalgal strain, growth conditions, biomass characterisation, and extraction and functionalisation protocols. The increasing number of cosmeceutical products enriched with photoprotective, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and moisturising/regenerating molecules extracted from microalgae suggests growing interest and potential for this type of active substance with new advantages in terms of environmental impact. The demand for new and natural compounds, the "clean label" trend, the holistic approach to post-pandemic well-being, and sustainable living have intensified the development of active compounds from microalgal origin.
However, of the approximately 30,000 microalgal species believed to exist, only a few thousand strains are preserved in collections worldwide, only a few hundred have been chemically explored, and even fewer have been produced on an industrial scale. Most current research focuses on studying growth conditions to stimulate the production of metabolites of interest and related extraction technologies. Most of these compounds are found in cytosolic cell spaces and cell walls, and common extraction methods cannot yield satisfactory results without altering product quality. This is why incorporating enzymes into various extractions is currently one of the few methods capable of providing this result.
Circularity and innovation
Today, Active Cells Biotechnology innovates natural cosmetics by bringing to the market a unique product born from a passion for nature and a solid experience in the world of biotechnology. Core values are sustainability and circularity along with passion for innovation. Lady Purple® is the result of a meticulous research process aimed at enhancing the value of the raw material, embodying our values. The microalgae used are produced at an own microalgae cultivation site, which uses sustainable practices, that reduce emissions and sequester CO₂ from the atmosphere.
This ensures the circularity and control of the entire supply chain, guaranteeing the quality and exclusivity of the product, which is entirely made in Italy in accordance with the highest principles of the green economy.
Microalgal biomass is a highly sustainable raw material; its growth is very rapid and leads to the sequestration of CO₂ from the atmosphere while minimising the required land use. In addition, Lady Purple® is obtained through a virtuous process of Upcycling. The producing company purifies certain metabolites from the liquid medium and discards the biomass, which then becomes the precious raw material from which Lady Purple® originates. This sustainable process results in a high-value-added ingredient derived from waste material, thereby extending the product's lifecycle.
The production process used is highly ecological and planet-friendly; the enzymatic technology allows to carry out a low-energy extraction, avoiding high temperatures and the use of solvents, thereby minimising the product’s carbon footprint.
Of the approximately 30,000 microalgal species believed to exist, only a few thousand strains are preserved in collections worldwide, only a few hundred have been chemically explored, and even fewer have been produced on an industrial scale.
Most current research focuses on studying growth conditions to stimulate the production of metabolites of interest and related extraction technologies. Most of these compounds are found in cytosolic cell spaces and cell walls, and common extraction methods cannot yield satisfactory results without altering product quality. This is why incorporating enzymes into various extractions is currently one of the few methods capable of providing this result. The use of microalgae as a source of bioactive molecules presents many areas of opportunity for future research, focused on the standardisation of enzymatic and eco-friendly extraction methods and identifying bioactivities for the development of new active ingredients. The cosmeceutical market demands increasingly safe, innovative, and effective solutions. Microalgae-based ingredients fit these needs and have a strong potential for growth in the cosmetic industry.